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Protectionism Won't Heal Africa's Sick

Incompetence, corruption and opportunism are denying Africans the drugs they need.

By

Roger Bate

Updated Sept. 28, 2009 5:05 p.m. ET

Donating money to boost African access to essential drugs is a wonderful thing. But unless philanthropists insist on market principles in the continent's drug market, and until they apply necessary due diligence when cutting checks, their aid stands to be hijacked by governmental opportunism, incompetence and corruption.

So far, donors have focused almost exclusively on lowering drug prices to improve access. They have subsidized drugs, demanded lower prices from innovator companies, and have weakened patent law to increase...